Bridges set for replacement

As county officials prepare to finalize the budget for the coming year, several line items for the highway department will include replacement costs for three aging structures.
The Holt Bridge in Alliance Township, located in the far southeast corner of the county on 242nd over Pipestone Creek, is a $2.34 million project. Built in 1968, the bridge is considered at the end of its lifespan. The 93-foot bridge will be replaced by another 93-foot structure, with construction set to begin next April or May.
The countys portion of the Holt Bridge replacement will be $234,631, a federal grant will cover the remaining 95% of the projects cost.
In addition to the Holt Bridge, the replacement of two deteriorating structures in Riverview Township is being pushed ahead of schedule. These bridges, just south of the border with Brookings County on 221st Street and only a half-mile apart, are in extremely poor condition, according to County Highway Superintendent Andy Muller.
So much so, he told Commissioners this past month during budget talks, that they cannot wait for repairs beyond next spring. Neither bridge is able to accommodate any longer, todays large farm equipment in terms of width or weight.
Instead of traditional bridge replacements, the installation of four six-foot-wide, 50-foot-long culverts is planned for next spring, providing significant savings to the county. Each bridge replacement is estimated at $110,000, compared to $750,000 for a traditional bridge replacement.
Muller believes the change is more cost-effective and practical for the county and the agricultural community, noting that similar installations have been successful in other areas.
County workers plan to handle the project themselves, with each culvert installation likely taking two to three weeks to complete. The planned replacements are expected to improve transportation and support local agriculture and are part of a broader effort to maintain and improve infrastructure across the county.